Fears that a move to make the Teign Estuary a protected ‘national landscape’ could mean ruin for Teignmouth’s busy docks have been allayed.
Now a special meeting will be held to shape the future of the estuary and protect it from unwanted development.
Reports on social media before a Teignbridge Council meeting said proposed environmental protections could hamper the use of the docks by cargo ships in the future.
Some councillors said the reports amounted to ‘misinformation’ but others echoed fears for the port.
The docks are a crucial driver of South Devon’s economy and handle up to half a million tonnes of cargo a year, mainly exporting local ball clay and importing goods like animal feed, salt, aggregates, and stone.
There are up to 400 vessel movements in and out of the port each year, and shipping campaigners warned that protecting the beauty of the estuary could have severe knock-on effects on the port.
During a meeting of the full council, Cllr Andrew MacGregor (Ind, Bishopsteignton) proposed launching a consultation to gauge support for the creation of a national landscape protection for the entire estuary.
And, he insisted, his motion only concerned the estuary upstream of Shaldon Bridge and had nothing to do with the docks.
“The working port and harbour are explicitly excluded,” he said. “This does not impose any restriction on our maritime economy at all.”
Objectors in Teignmouth say having a protected area above the bridge would still have an impact on dredging and maintenance, but Cllr MacGregor said they would not be affected.
“This is about the protection of our estuary and port,” he added. “By not supporting it, you risk losing both.
“If we don’t protect the landscape, we risk losing the port anyway. This is an opportunity for the council to bring in a win/win for the Teign Estuary.”
His motion called on the council to submit a formal application to Natural England, and to launch a widespread consultation across the area covered by the estuary.
But council leader Richard Keeling (Lib Dem, Chudleigh) said he had received more than 130 emails since the issue was aired on social media, and none had been in support of the move.
He also warned that the process could cost the council more than a quarter of a million pounds as well as taking officers away from other tasks.
Cllr Jackie Hook (Lib Dem, Bushell) said there should be more consideration and consultation before any application was made, and a full-scale study of the entire estuary should be carried out.
There should also be a special meeting of the Teign Estuary and Coastal Partnership, with all interested groups invited to attend.
Cllr Hook’s amendment was passed, meaning there was no vote on Cllr MacGregor’s original proposal.
The news was welcomed online by the Ship Happens TNM social media group, which had raised the alarm over the future of the port.
A statement said: “While a few tried to brush off our warnings, other councillors in the chamber stepped up and echoed exactly what we have been saying.
“They explicitly stated they lacked confidence in the original motion because there simply was not enough factual evidence provided to prove that the daily functions of our working port and harbour would remain unaffected.”
The group also welcomed Cllr Hook’s amendment and the prospect of a special meeting, adding: “ This is what happens when a community stands up for its physical infrastructure and working maritime heritage. We protected the port today.”
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